EAS 105
THE PLANETS
A Journey Through Space and Time
General
Outline
I. Introduction to Planetology
Physical
units and powers of time, scale of the solar system and historical perspective,
Kepler's and Newton's Laws
II. The Sun
In
the sun, sunlight, spectra and cosmic abundances, how elements are made, the
solar wind.
III. The Moon
Apollo
explorations to the moon, minerals and rocks, craters and structure
IV. Mercury
Its
orbit, surface and structure
V. Venus
The
atmosphere and surface of Venus
VI. Earth
Age
of Earth and geologic time scale, basic internal structure and plate tectonics,
atmosphere, oceans and life.
VII. Mars
Surface
processes, volcanoes and tectonics, Viking missions and the search for life
VIII. The Giant Planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, & Neptune
Internal
structures and atmospheres, magnetic fields in the solar system,
magnetospheres, Voyager exploration of the outer solar system
IX. Outer Satellites, Rings and Pluto
X. Asteroids, Comets, and Meteorites
XI. Origin of the Solar System